An Introduction to Fishing

2017·3 MB·English

by  Missouri Department of Conservation

An Introduction to

FISHING
Fishing
Fishing is a great way to spend
“God never did make a more calm, a day. You can take a lunch and
quiet, innocent recreation ....” picnic as you fsh. You can camp
near a lake. You can hike or boat to
Izaak Walton
a fshing spot. Many people build
their vacations around fshing. Be
sure to take your family or your
friends along, for there is no more
sociable activity.
Missouri has more than 800,000
acres of surface water, and most
of it provides great fshing. Our
waters hold ancient paddlefsh,
wary largemouth bass, and tasty
bluegill—more than 200 diferent
species. About 40 of those fsh
species are the targets of anglers.
Some Missourians fsh for sport
or relaxation, while others fsh only
for food. Regardless of motivation,
the majority of anglers reap all the
benefts of fshing. They spend
quality time on the water and then
return home to a satisfying meal
of fried or grilled fsh they have
caught themselves.
One of the joys of fshing is that
it can be fun and productive at
any skill level. You can complicate
the sport with jargon and
sophisticated equipment, but the
whole sport can be pared down
to some basic equipment and
techniques.
This publication presents those
basics to you. It would take many
volumes to introduce you to all the
species of fsh, all the methods,
and all the lures, and so much
information at once would be
overwhelming.
Instead, we want to be your
guide for your frst fshing trips. Let
us go with you hand-in-hand to
the water and patiently teach you
how to catch some fsh. We know
that once you start fshing, you will
quickly learn to love the sport.
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2 | An Introduction to Fishing
Rod Tip
Rod and Reel Spin-fshing reels are of two types:
closed-faced (or spin-casting) and open-
You could catch fsh with a stick, some
faced (or spinning). The spin-casting reel
string and a safety pin. In a similar vein,
has a cap with a hole in it over the top of
you could also drive nails with a rock. But
the spool. On the open-faced reel, you can
wouldn’t it be easier to use a hammer?
see the entire spool and the line wound on
Modern fshing reels, rods, line, and
it. (See illustrations on page 7.)
hooks take the place of a stick, string, and
Closed-faced reels have either a push
pin. They are designed to improve your
button or a lever that, when depressed,
fsh catching ability and to decrease your
allows line to fall of the spool. Open-faced
frustration. Like the hammer, a fshing rod
reels have a semicircular metal device
and reel is a purchase that will serve you
known as a bail, which guides line onto the
over and over again.
spool when closed and allows line to be
Line
Fortunately, taking this giant
released when open.
Guides
evolutionary step from stick and string to a
You can pick either spin-casting or
modern and suitable fshing rod and reel is
open-faced reels. Note from the pictures on
not expensive.
Page 7 that the push-button reel requires
You might start by borrowing some
a diferent rod handle and grip than do the
equipment from a relative or friend to
reels with a bail or a lever.
begin fshing. Your request could lead
You will want a good, all-purpose
to a fshing outing with an experienced
rod-and-reel combination to start with—
partner. You could also use equipment
something that will let you catch fsh of all
from the many Missouri Department of
sizes. Look for or ask a clerk in a sporting
Conservation (MDC) rod and reel loaner
goods store for a medium-light rod from 5
locations (available online at short.mdc.
1/2 to 6 1/2 feet long and a matching reel
mo.gov/Z4X).
that will handle lines from 4-pound test to
Most beginners use spin-fshing
12-pound test. (The “pound test” tells you
equipment. In spin fshing, the reel lays line
how strong the line is.) Medium-light tackle
around a fxed spool, the way you might
is sufcient for fshing ponds, small lakes
wind thread on a spool. The spool end
and rivers, and even trout parks.
points toward the guides on the rod, and
line falls of it in loops when you cast.
Thumb Button Drag Adjustment
Rod
Handle
Trigger
Cover
Line
Opening
hite Grip
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An Introduction to Fishing | 3
Shopping List
• A Summary of Missouri
Fishing Regulations
• Bait and lures
• Hooks
» S ize 6
» 1 6–20
• Sinkers
» A ssorted sizes of split
shot
» O ne package of three
bell sinkers, ½ ounce
• Bobbers
• Spare fshing line
» M onoflament line, 6-
to 12-pound test
» 4 -pound test or less
• Needle-nosed pliers and
nail clippers
• Tape measure
• Stringer (or fsh basket)
Stocking a Basic Tackle Box
• Landing net
Sporting goods departments and bait shops often stock mind-boggling • First aid kit
inventories of equipment and accessories. They ofer artifcial baits in every color • Sunscreen and insect
and size. Plus you’ll encounter a whirlwind of bugs, bobbers, sinkers, hooks, and repellent
swivels. • Area map
Don’t be misled; you don’t need a garage full of equipment to go fshing. In • Know Your Catch fsh ID
fact, the following basic items will equip you nicely for your frst outings. booklet
Line: Your Link to the Fish
We suggest starting with 8-pound test monoflament line.
People sometimes use lighter line to cast farther or to get
more bites from skittish fsh or heavier lines to pull out
of snags, but 8-pound test line is a good compromise for
most fsh. Choose clear, light blue or green line for your
starting outft.
Check your reel or the instructions that came with it to
determine how much 8-pound-test line it will hold. Usually hite
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a 100-yard spool is large enough to fll a medium-light reel. f
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Follow the instructions that come with your reel and ox:
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4 | An Introduction to Fishing
Casting
Casting is a mechanical activity. The fshing rod extends
your arm and allows you to “throw” your lure or bait a long reel should all be in
distance with little efort. Keep in mind that casting is a direct line with the right
matter of timing, not strength. eye, right foot, and target. This
We’ll teach you a reliable one-stroke cast. places the rod and lure in natural line
You can learn to cast on the water, or head to your with the target. Keep your eye focused
backyard or a nearby park and throw to targets on the grass. on the target during the entire cast.
Practice with a bell sinker or a casting plug attached to the
end of your line. A few 10-minute sessions will make you Cast
profcient enough to fsh. There are six steps to a successful
Hold the rod so that the tip is at eye level and centered
cast: grip, stance, aim, cast, release, and follow-through.
on the target. Your elbow should be close to, but not
Grip touching, your body. With a smooth upward motion, start
the cast by raising your hand almost to eye level, bending
If you are right-handed, grip the rod handle with your right the wrist and elbow so that the rod extends over your
hand, placing your forefnger on the rod handle trigger. If head and behind you. When the rod reaches the 11 or 10
you are left-handed, grip the rod handle with your left hand, o’clock position, the weight of the plug will cause the rod
placing your forefnger on the rod handle trigger. Place your to bend to the rear. As it does, bring the rod forward in a
thumb on the release button but do not press it yet. crisp downstroke with the forearm, applying only a slight
wrist motion forward.
Release
When your forearm, wrist, and rod reach the 1 o’clock
position on the forward cast, release the push button with
your thumb and allow the plug to travel toward the target.
Line is released when the push button is released. The
correct release usually occurs when the rod is between 1
and 2 o’clock, but this will take some practice.
Follow-through
As the plug is released, your arm should follow through to
about the 3 o’clock position.
Stance Note: The cast should begin with the plug hanging
about 1 inch below the rod tip. If more casting distance
Face your target with feet shoulder-width apart. If you are
is needed, increase the starting distance from the plug
right-handed, put your right foot forward. If you are left-
to the rod tip in 1-inch increments, until the desired
handed, put your left foot forward. More of your weight
distance is obtained. The farther the plug starts from the
should be on your forward foot, also known as the aiming
rod tip, the harder it will be to achieve accuracy. Holding
foot. Keeping your body and target in a straight line
the plug against the rod tip can cause excessive wear to
increases your chances for a successful cast.
the tip guide, which can afect accuracy. The best rule
nger Aim of thumb is to start with the plug hanging 1 inch below
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on: casting arm, the rod, and eye need to be in alignment. If your lure shoots up in the air and doesn’t go very
ustrati Place the rod in front of your body, pointing at the target. far, you probably released the line too early. If the lure
g Ill Keep your elbow bent at approximately a right angle. Keep smacks into the ground in front of you, you released the
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Casti your eye on the target and not the rod. Make a point to line too late.
hite; check to see what’s behind you. Press the push button Remember that the cast has no sudden or jerky
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f with your right thumb (if you are right-handed) and raise motions. Practice until it becomes smooth and nearly
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el: the rod to the 2 o’clock position. The right hand, rod, and efortless.
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An Introduction to Fishing | 5
Filling the reel spool How to tie an arbor knot
Thread the line through the spool cap or under the 1. Wrap the tag end of your line around your reel spool.
bail to start. Tie one end of the line to your reel spool 2. Tie an overhand knot in the tag end. This will keep
with an arbor knot, and then reel it on. Most spools of the end from pulling through the main knot.
line come with suggestions on how to avoid line twist 3. Tie another overhand knot with the line around the
when flling your reel. spool.
4. Wet the main knot and pull it down tight onto the
spool. Make sure the frst overhand knot pulls in tight to
this main knot.
How A Drag Works
Fishing reels have a drag to prevent the weight
and pull of a fsh from snapping the line,
making it possible to land even large fsh with
light lines.
Before fshing, set the drag to release line
before the breaking point of the line is reached.
When a big fsh is pulling, line will come of
the reel, sometimes making a clicking sound.
Learn to recognize when the drag is letting a
fsh run and don’t reel during that time, or your
line will twist. Avoid the temptation to tighten
the drag while fghting a fsh.
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6 | An Introduction to Fishing
Finer Points
All anglers do not cast alike. As you fsh, you will develop • Longer rods generally allow you to cast farther, if they
your own casting style. You will also learn special casts, are correctly matched to the weight of the lure or bait.
such as the sidearm cast or underarm fip, that will allow Make sure your reel is flled to capacity, so the line does
you to throw a lure when branches or brush make the not drag on the reel spool.
overhand cast impossible. All casts, however, depend on • If you need more distance, use a two- hand grip and
the basic back and forth motion. That’s the best way to bring the arm back more quickly on the backcast,
take mechanical advantage of the rod. Here are some tips loading the rod with more energy potential.
to improve your casting: • Casting into a strong wind requires a lower trajectory,
• Accuracy is often more important than distance. Many which is achieved by releasing the line slightly later in
fsh remain near protective cover and will strike only the forward part of the cast.
those lures that come into their immediate vicinity. • If your lure bounces or skitters across the water, you are
• Improve your accuracy by casting to defnite targets, releasing the line too late. Release earlier for a higher
even while on the water. Make sure you focus on your trajectory. Remember the bouncing technique, though,
target while casting. for you may someday want to skip your lure under a
• If you sense you’ve cast too far, you can slow the lure dock or raft.
by providing some drag on the line with your fngers or • Many problems with distance or accuracy result from
by lifting the rod so that the line drags against the end holding the rod too tightly. Use the minimum amount
guide, instead of fowing through it. of force necessary to hold the rod through the cast.
• Casting heavy lures or baits requires more of a lob Seizing the rod tightens muscles and restricts fuidity,
than a cast. Increase slightly the distance between especially in your wrist. The lighter the grip, the more
the lure and the rod tip, and use more of a sidearm control and distance.
cast. Bring the rod back more slowly and pause longer
before beginning the forward cast. Use your entire arm,
instead of just the forearm, for casting.
Spin-fshing reels and rods and how anglers hold them
Open-faced reel Spin-casting reel
The rod is held in the right hand with the reel on the The rod is held with the reel up. Cast with the rod in
underside for both casting and retrieving. Right-hand the right hand and switch the rod to the left hand
anglers reel with their left hand. Closed-faced reels before retrieving. Reel with the right hand. (Some
with levers are also held in this position. reels allow you to switch the handle to the other side
of the reel if you prefer.)
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An Introduction to Fishing | 7
Rigging Up
Now that you’ve acquired some fshing gear and learned
how to cast, it’s time to arm your fshing pole for action.
The end of your line is the scene of all the action. Here
you’ll tie a hook or lure and, perhaps, fasten on split shot
sinkers, swivels, or bobbers.
Use the improved clinch to tie on hooks and lures.
Improved Clinch Knot
Rubber Grip Egg Bullet Split Shot
There are dozens of diferent knots, but most anglers
settle on one or two favorite knots to tie line to reels,
hooks, swivels, and lures. The improved clinch knot is 5. Pull on both the line and the tag end to tighten
strong and easy to tie, even with cold, wet fngers. the knot and snug it up to the eye. The knot will come
together more smoothly if you moisten the line with saliva
1. Run the end of the line through the eye of a hook before tightening. Trim the tag end about 1/4 inch away
about 6 inches and fold it back on itself. from the knot.
2. Leaving a loop (Loop 1) near the eye, wrap the end of
the line around the standing (or long piece of line held in
Finished Knot
your hand) about fve complete turns.
Standing
How you rig depends partly on the kind of fsh you
Cord
hope to catch. Catfsh usually search for food near the
Loop 1 bottom, so you need weight to keep your bait near the
fsh. Crappie and many other panfsh often swim a few feet
beneath the surface, and a bobber will hold your bait up
where the fsh can see it.
3. Pass the end back up through Loop 1 (the loop beside
Generally, use the lightest tackle you can. Holding your
the eye). This creates another loop (Loop 2) between the
bait on the bottom of a pond on a calm day, for example,
standing cord and Loop 1.
doesn’t require a large sinker. One or two split shot will
do, and the lighter weight is less likely to alert fsh that are
Loop 2 sampling your bait.
Standing Similarly, use a small bobber and balance it with
Cord
Loop 1 enough split shot beneath that the fsh can pull your
bobber down without much resistance.
Spring Slip Foam Plastic
Torpedo Round
4. Pass the end down through Loop 2 and out along
the side of the standing cord. You’ll fnd it helpful to use
•
the fngers holding the hook to help you guide the end
through the loop.
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8 | An Introduction to Fishing
What you should use for bait also depends on the kind Baited Hooks
of fsh you’re after. (See the chart on Page 11.) The best all
Keep baits fresh. With few exceptions, fresh bait will attract
around bait is probably a worm or a part of a nightcrawler,
more bites than old bait.
both of which will catch panfsh and trout, as well as most
larger species. Hook the worm several times through, or
pinch of part of a nightcrawler and run the hook through
it.
Bobber Rig
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4 to 10
inches
4 to 10 Bottom Fishing Rig
inches
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An Introduction to Fishing | 9
Hooks come in many sizes and shapes. An ideal hook Types of Lures and Baits
is one that is small enough to slip into a fsh’s mouth, yet
large enough to hold its lip securely. Hooks are measured
with a numbering system that runs from No. 20 to No. 0 —
Oversized Plug
the bigger the number, the smaller the hook. For example,
a No. 20 hook is much smaller than a No. 6 hook. p
When fshing with natural or live bait, a package with
an assortment of hooks ranging from sizes No. 6 through
No. 10 is good to have. However, when fshing for catfsh
or other large fsh, larger hooks are needed, such as No. 2
through No. 6. Trout fshing requires small hooks in the No.
14 to No. 20 range.
Large
Bucktail Spinner
Aberdeen Bait-holder Treble
Spoons
Aberdeen Hook
The Aberdeen hook has an elongated shank and wide
gap. Mostly used with worms, minnows, and insect larvae, Crankbaits
the Aberdeen allows for easy removal from a fsh, as the
shank is usually visible for easy access. This hook is a good
beginner’s hook. The long shank helps anglers get a safer
feel for unhooking fsh, and baiting is easier than if using
short-shank hooks.
Bait-holder Hook
Bait-holder hooks are recognizable by a series of two
or more barbs on the shank. Anglers who fsh with
nightcrawlers often use them. These barbs help hold the
worms on the shank. This keeps bait on the hook longer
and limits bait loss from small fsh that try to pull the worm ner
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Treble Hook es:
The treble hook is actually three single hooks stuck baits, Fli
together. Used most often with lures, but are also used to nk
hold doughbait or stinkbait because they hold soft bait ns, Cra
better than single hooks. oo
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10 | An Introduction to Fishing